Uttar Pradesh India
Uttar Pradesh, the fourth largest state in India, nestles within its folds
a variety of terrain. Its 2,94,410 kms. have the mighty Himalayas as silent
sentinels; Thick deciduous and tropical forests with exotic flora and teeming
wildlife; a large system of meandering rivers and fertile plains; rocky domains
of the hills famous for their tales of bravery and valour.
The Gangetic plains have cradled civilization from the earliest times; great
empires had flourished here. Their imprints lie embedded in its culture and
land as immortal legacy of a glorious past. Many have gained worldwide fame
as precious works of art and are preserved as international heritage. Many
more recount the tales of events that have fashioned history. Gods were born
here and saints and sages have sanctified its soil with penance. In pre-historic
times great denizens of the wilds roamed its forests. Best of all, love flowered
here. Love that created legends like the Taj Mahal and the pilgrimages of
Shiva and Sati. All these have beckoned the devout and tourists from time
immemorial.
The northern facade of the sub-continent stretches as a long line of broken
country, rising to immense heights. Poets have often been moved to describe
it as the crown of Mother India or a citadel - guarding our land. The beauty
of these Himalayan ranges unfolds so spectacularly at no other region of the
country as in the hills of Uttar Pradesh. Entire panoramas open out like huge
canvases of some landscape artist, each snow-peak presenting its most beautiful
profile.
The Garhwal Himalayas are a trekker’s delight. They have some very fine
lakes. The very sight of these, surrounded by snow-clad peaks and alpine pastures
resplendent with wild blooms, is enough to remove all the strain of the toil
required to reach them.
Amongst the many places of tourist interest in Uttar Pradesh are the holy
shrines of various religions; some lie deep in the Himalayan ranges; some
straddle rocky pinnacles in lower hills; some stand on the banks of mighty
rivers (that are held as holy as the shrines) and some are even tucked into
the solitude of forests and caves. Numerous holy towns line the banks of the
timeless Ganga (Ganges): Varanasi, Allahabad, Rishikesh, Hardwar are some
of the more famous, and it is a delightful experience to mingle with the thronging
crowd of pilgrims. This is yet another experience of India, fascinating and
mysterious.
Uttar Pradesh offers snow clad mountains, forests and wildlife, shrines and
temples, glorious forts and monuments, breathtaking adventure and sports;
beautiful art and handicraft, exotic traditional cuisine and a varied culture.
Almost every little place in the state has a tale to tell. It is impossible
to document all the ancient glory. The following covers only a few of the
most important:
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